Surnames: Palmer, Blum, Peterson, Kleckner, Wittke, Dodte, Neff, Counsel, Crothers, Allen, Hagen, Wood, Milton, Aspen, Blankenheim, Reits, Southard, Schroeder, Boe, Books, Mortimer, Williams, Kerney, Van Sickle, Hanson, Gaen, Jorgenson, Christianson, Neipert, Chase, Flynn, Lubinski, Payson, Peterson, Johns

----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 18 Dec. 1930

Palmer, Ernest George (4 Dec. 1893 - 10 Dec. 1930) AKA Jack

This entire community was greatly sickened and deeply saddened last Wednesday evening, Dec. 10, when the news was phoned from friend to friend in and around Neillsville that Ernest Palmer has met an accidental death that day while hunting deer near Alvin in the north part of the state. He had gone to Shawano and there joined his brother-in-law, Dr. Alfred Blum of that city and several other men in a trip to the north woods to hunt deer. Most of the other men had succeeded in getting a deer, but as he was not so fortunate he stayed on with a few others till the last day of the open season, hoping to get one. He went out in the morning with two others, stationing himself at a selected point, the others going around to make a "drive" toward him. When they came in, they found him lying died beside a large hollow stump. He hadevidently been standing on the stump with the butt of the gun resting on the stump between his feet. The gun had apparently slipped off, going down inside of the stump, the hammer striking the wood which discharged the gun. The bullet passes upward and backward through the body, no doubt causing instant death. His companions got out to a telephone and called Dr. Blum, who had gone home to Shawano. He called the ambulance at Antigo and the body was brought to Shawano, and, and from there shipped by train to Neillsville, reaching here on the early train Thursday morning.

Few deaths in this locality have ?rawn forth more expressions of sorrow and sympathy than were heard on every hand when the death of Ernest Palmer was announced. He was born here, coming from a family who for several generations had lived in this vicinity. In this community are many who were his boyhood friends and schoolmates and loved him for his fine manly qualities. Among his old associates he was familiarly known as "Jack" and with them he will long be held in fond remembrance.

Ernest George Palmer, son of Merton and Katherine Palmer, was born at Neillsville Wisconsin, Dec. 4, 1893. Here he attended the public school and the high school and became a member of the Presbyterian church.

With the completion of his educations he worked for his father on the farm until he entered the service. However, after he had been training at Camp Douglas for some time, being the only son, he was honorably discharged to return and carry on the work of the farm.

On Dec. 4, 1917, he was married to Mabel Peterson at Mauston, Wis., and brought his bride to the Palmer farm west of the city, where they have made their home until the present time.

Four children have come to bless their home: three sons, Wendell, Gerald, and Wayne and one daughter, Jessie.

Mr. Palmer was recognized by all who knew him as a fine character and a real asset to the community. He was an industrious farmer, always interested in the best things in community life, and an active leader among the young people of the community in 4-H Club work and was secretary-treasurer of the Holstein-Friesian Club. Most of all, will he be missed in the home. He was a beloved son of his mother, Mrs. Katherine Palmer, and his father, who preceded him in death in April 1928. He has been a devoted husband and a kind and considerate father.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mabel Palmer, his four children above mentioned, his mother, Mrs. Katherine Palmer of this city; two sisters, Ina, now Mrs. Harry J. Neipert of Fort Atkinson, Wis., and Josephine, now Mrs. Alfred Blum of Shawano, Wis.

The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the Union Methodist-Presbyterian church in Neillsville, the great gathering of friends many more than could find entrance in the church, testifying to the esteem in which the deceased was held in this community. The pall bearers were Alfred Kleckner, Herman Wittke, Bernard Bodte, Charles Neff, Clarion Counsel and Wendell Crothers; the honorary pall bearers were Edwin Allen, Ted Hagen, Earl Wood, James Milton, Ole Aspen and Donald Crothers.

Those from away who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Nick Blankenheim, Mrs. Reits, Mrs. Lena Southard, Mr. Schroeder and Amos Boe of Marshfield; Clark Brooks of Lynn; Wendell Crothers, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Mortimer and Mrs. Dave Williams of Granton; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kearney and Mrs. Claire Ban Sickle of Merrillan; Henry M. Hanson, Mrs. Hilmer Hagen, Mr. and Mrs. Christ Jorgenson of Whitehall; Mr. and Mrs. Hilmer Christianson of Ettrick, Wis., Mrs. Harry J. Neipert of Fort Atkinson; Dr. and Mrs. Alfred Blum of Shawano; Chester Hanson of Wheaton, Ill.; Mrs. Bert Chase of Milwaukee; Mr. Pat Flynn, and Mrs. Mike Flynn of Superior; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Lubinski and Pauline of Fairchild; Mr. and Mrs. Fed Payson and Angeline Payson of Chippewa Falls and Mr. and Mrs. Hans Peterson of Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Johns, of Stetsonville.